In this role, I am supported by a professional in the University of Brighton’s alumni office and a marketing academic from the School of Service Management who advise me in the best ways to locate and contact alumni, store and analyse collected data and plan events and communications based on the knowledge gained.
So far, my project has been a success! Through newsletters, emails, online social networking, new media and events, such as an alums vs. current students football match and UK-based alumni meetings, I have had a chance to ‘converse’, online, in person and via snail mail with an incredible group of former students.
When I started my project at Pestalozzi I knew that, as well as working with Pestalozzi’s alumni, I wanted the opportunity to spend time with its current students. To this end, I started a Running Club, which trains every Saturday morning. My Running Club decided to compete in the local Hastings Half-Marathon under the banner of ‘Team Pestalozzi’. On March 20th, nine students, two volunteers, two members of staff and one trustee crossed the finish line in less than 2:30:00, raising awareness for Pestalozzi and over £1,000 towards future student scholarships.
Team Pestalozzi
The outpouring of support for Team Pestalozzi has been brilliant. A local butcher, P.A. Fisher & Son, sponsored t-shirts for the students to train and race in, and several local businesses donated fantastic prizes for our raffle, a fundraising initiative that took place at Pestalozzi’s Annual International Celebration on 5th March.
Interestingly, I have learned that several alumni completed the race in the past. Many sponsored our run and passed on tips and words of encouragement through email and Facebook, such as Abhishek Mishra, a current University of Brighton Electrical and Electronics Engineering student, who said, ‘Pestalozzi Runners…do practice a lot. The Pesta hill is there to use every morning and evening to keep a continuity with your practice. Have lots of water and don’t run to win it. Give it your best...good luck!’
In short, this personal project has become a great (and new) way to connect with former Pestalozzi scholars.
